Snowflakes
26 May 2018 | 120 Miles South West of Cape Horn
6:00pm Friday 25th May 2018 ( UTC-4)
Snowflakes were quite featured in recent news but the solution is simple - apply a little heat and they just fade away. Careful planning is however required for this in the 5C cabin. First cuddle up to the stove lighter so itâs gas is warm enough to light the reluctant methylated spirits then empty the still warm hot water bottle into the saucepan and bring to the boil. In the meantime don rubber boots rain proof overalls, rainproof jacket, balaclava and hood. Charge coffee percolator and once the hot water bottle is filled put on the perc till brewed. Turn off stove, clip on harness, quickly adjust sails or autopilot, duck back in the cabin, brush off the snowflakes, batten down the hatches and warm hands on coffee percolator, sip hot coffee and cuddle up to said hotty and stove lighter for next time. Whose afraid of a bit of snow? - Me! Luckily this has been a rare happening over the last day or so as I have been running before a 30 knot ESE under double reefed main alone on the autopilot. Now with the wind veering S through SW I have unfurled the staysail and making nice comfortable time on the WindPilot which should require no attention till tomorrow evening when a strong NW is forecast and I plan to more or less heave to under reefed main and locked helm while I await a nice spell of SW weather.